Matthew 24:21
New International Version
For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

New Living Translation
For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.

English Standard Version
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.

Berean Standard Bible
For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.

Berean Literal Bible
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, and never shall be.

King James Bible
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

New King James Version
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

New American Standard Bible
For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.

NASB 1995
“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.

NASB 1977
for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall.

Legacy Standard Bible
For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.

Amplified Bible
For at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again].

Christian Standard Bible
For at that time there will be great distress, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again!

American Standard Version
for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.

Contemporary English Version
This will be the worst time of suffering since the beginning of the world, and nothing this terrible will ever happen again.

English Revised Version
for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
There will be a lot of misery at that time, a kind of misery that has not happened from the beginning of the world until now and will certainly never happen again.

Good News Translation
For the trouble at that time will be far more terrible than any there has ever been, from the beginning of the world to this very day. Nor will there ever be anything like it again.

International Standard Version
because at that time there will be great suffering, the kind that hasn't happened from the beginning of the world until now and certainly won't ever happen again.

Majority Standard Bible
For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.

NET Bible
For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen.

New Heart English Bible
for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.

Webster's Bible Translation
For then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Weymouth New Testament
for it will be a time of great suffering, such as never has been from the beginning of the world till now, and assuredly never will be again.

World English Bible
for then there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for there will then be great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor may be.

Berean Literal Bible
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, and never shall be.

Young's Literal Translation
for there shall be then great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world till now, no, nor may be.

Smith's Literal Translation
For then shall be great pressure, such as has not been from the beginning of the world till now, nor should be.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until the present, and such as will not be.

New American Bible
for at that time there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be.

New Revised Standard Version
For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For then will be great suffering, such as has never happened from the beginning of the world until now, and never will be again.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For then there will be great suffering, which has not been from the beginning of the world even until now, neither will be.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
for then shall be great affliction, such as has not been from the beginning of the world till now, nor shall ever be.

Godbey New Testament
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world even until now nor ever may be.

Haweis New Testament
For then the tribulation will be great, such as never was from the beginning of the world, and never more shall be.

Mace New Testament
for the desolation will be so dreadful, the like was never seen since the beginning of the world, no, nor ever shall be again.

Weymouth New Testament
for it will be a time of great suffering, such as never has been from the beginning of the world till now, and assuredly never will be again.

Worrell New Testament
for then will be great tribulation, such as has not happened from the beginning of the world until now; no, nor ever shall be.

Worsley New Testament
for there shall be then great affliction, such as has not been from the beginning of the world unto this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Abomination of Desolation
20Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath. 21For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. 22If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.…

Cross References
Daniel 12:1
“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

Revelation 7:14
“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Joel 2:2
a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.

Jeremiah 30:7
How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it.

Revelation 16:18
And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake the likes of which had not occurred since men were upon the earth—so mighty was the great quake.

Mark 13:19
For those will be days of tribulation unseen from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again.

Luke 21:23-24
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. / They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Isaiah 13:9-13
Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming—cruel, with fury and burning anger—to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners within it. / For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. / I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless. ...

Zephaniah 1:15-18
That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, / a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers. / I will bring such distress on mankind that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung. ...

Ezekiel 5:9
Because of all your abominations, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again.

Daniel 9:26
Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed.

Revelation 6:15-17
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. / And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. / For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

Isaiah 24:1-6
Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and leaves it in ruins. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants— / people and priest alike, servant and master, maid and mistress, buyer and seller, lender and borrower, creditor and debtor. / The earth will be utterly laid waste and thoroughly plundered. For the LORD has spoken this word. ...

Amos 5:18-20
Woe to you who long for the Day of the LORD! What will the Day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light. / It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. / Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?


Treasury of Scripture

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Psalm 69:22-28
Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap…

Isaiah 65:12-16
Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not…

Isaiah 66:15,16
For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire…

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Matthew 24
1. Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple;
3. what and how great calamities shall be before it;
29. the signs of his coming to judgment.
36. And because that day and hour are unknown,
42. we ought to watch like good servants, expecting our Master's coming.














For at that time
This phrase sets a specific period in eschatological prophecy, indicating a future event. The Greek word used here is "τότε" (tote), which means "then" or "at that time." It signifies a pivotal moment in history, a divinely appointed time when God's plan unfolds. In the context of Matthew 24, Jesus is speaking about the end times, a period of significant upheaval and fulfillment of prophecy. This phrase reminds believers of God's sovereignty over time and history, encouraging them to trust in His perfect timing.

there will be
The certainty of this phrase underscores the inevitability of the events Jesus is describing. The Greek verb "ἔσται" (estai) is in the future indicative, emphasizing that these events are not hypothetical but assured. This assurance calls Christians to prepare spiritually and remain steadfast in faith, knowing that God's word is true and His promises are sure.

great tribulation
The term "great tribulation" is translated from the Greek "θλῖψις μεγάλη" (thlipsis megalē). "Thlipsis" refers to pressure, affliction, or distress, while "megalē" means great or large. This phrase describes an unprecedented period of suffering and persecution. Historically, this has been interpreted as a time of intense trial for believers, a refining fire that tests and purifies faith. It serves as a call to endurance, reminding Christians that trials are temporary and that God's ultimate victory is assured.

unmatched from the beginning of the world until now
This phrase highlights the unparalleled nature of the tribulation. The Greek "οἵα οὐ γέγονεν ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς κόσμου" (hoia ou gegonen ap' archēs kosmou) emphasizes that no event in history compares to this future tribulation. It serves as a sobering reminder of the severity of the end times, urging believers to remain vigilant and faithful. The historical context of this phrase points to the magnitude of God's redemptive plan, which encompasses all of creation and history.

and never to be seen again
The finality of this phrase, "καὶ οὐ μὴ γένηται" (kai ou mē genētai), underscores the unique and singular nature of the tribulation. It assures believers that this period of suffering will not be repeated, offering hope that God's kingdom will ultimately prevail. This promise of finality encourages Christians to look beyond present trials to the eternal glory that awaits, reinforcing the hope and assurance found in Christ's return.

(21) Such as was not since the beginning . . .--The words come from Daniel 12:1. One who reads the narrative of Josephus will hardly hesitate to adopt his language, "that all miseries that had been known from the beginning of the world fell short" of those of the siege of the Holy City (Wars, v. 13, ?? 4, 5). Other sieges may have witnessed, before and since, scenes of physical wretchedness equally appalling, but nothing that history records offers anything parallel to the alternations of fanatic hope and frenzied despair that attended the breaking up of the faith and polity of Israel.

Verse 21. - Nor then. Jesus gives the reason why this precipitate flight (vers. 16-20) was rendered necessary at the moment spoken of in ver. 15. Great tribulation. The miseries suffered in the siege of Jerusalem were stupendous To the skilful and fierce attacks of the Romans from without were added from within dire famine and pestilence, dissensions, violence, and continual bloodshed and murder. Josephus estimates the number of those who fell in the siege and capture of Jerusalem at 1,000,000, the usual population being largely increased by the influx of pilgrims attending the Feast of the Passover, and by thousands of fugitives who had flocked in from the country (Josephus. 'Bell. Jud.,' 6:09, 3). He adds that 97,000 were carried away captive during and after the war. Such as was not...nor ever shall be (Daniel 12:1). This is not mere hyperbole, but sober fact. Josephus ('Bell. Jud.,' Pro·m. 4) himself bears similar testimony: "Of all the cities under the dominion of Rome, ours was once the most happy, and afterwards the most utterly miserable. For the misfortunes of all the nations upon earth that have ever happened, if they are compared with the calamities to which the Jews were exposed, will, in my opinion, fall far short." Chrysostom sums up the matter thus: "Whence came there thus upon them wrath from God intolerable, and more sore than all that had befallen aforetime, not in Judaea only, but in any part of the world? Is it not quite clear that it was for the deed of the cross and for this rejection? Mark, I pray thee, the exceeding greatness of the ills, when not only compared with the time before, they appear more grievous, but also with all the time to come. For not in all the world, neither in all time that is past, and that is to come, shall any one be able to say such ills have been. And very naturally; for neither had any man perpetrated, not of these that ever have been, nor those to come hereafter, a deed so wicked and horrible" ('Hom.,' in loc.). The "affliction" spoken of refers not only to bodily sufferings, but to that anguish of mind occasioned by acute apprehension and. expectation of danger, such as was felt in the days before the Flood, and at the time of the oppression of Antiochus Epiphanes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

at that time
τότε (tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

there will be
ἔσται (estai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

great
μεγάλη (megalē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

tribulation,
θλῖψις (thlipsis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2347: Persecution, affliction, distress, tribulation. From thlibo; pressure.

unmatched
οἵα (hoia)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3634: Probably akin to ho, hos, and hosos; such or what sort of; especially the neuter with negative, not so.

from
ἀπ’ (ap’)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

[the] beginning
ἀρχῆς (archēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 746: From archomai; a commencement, or chief.

of [the] world
κόσμου (kosmou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).

until
ἕως (heōs)
Preposition
Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.

now,
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

[and]
οὐδ’ (oud’)
Conjunction
Strong's 3761: Neither, nor, not even, and not. From ou and de; not however, i.e. Neither, nor, not even.

never
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

to be [seen again].
γένηται (genētai)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great oppression (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 24:20
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